polarbearnursing

Hi, Thank you so much for all of that great information Sw88tpea, I really appreciate it. It sounds like you really enjoy your career as a Navy nurse. You said that there were people in your class as ODS that could not swim, was ODS any harder on them? To go along with that, you don't have to swim for the personal health assessment every year? As I'm looking at the AF and Navy, I keep coming back to the point you made about me being in the service for longer, so I will be higher up and so getting paid more. :) That's a major bonus for the Navy. How long will your cruises on the USS Comfort be? And if I were to choose not to try for one of the ships, what are my likely deployment sights? Do you know what deployments are like? I'm so glad to hear about your friends who had their pets shipped to them, I absolutely cannot live without my dog. :) Do you know of anyone who had more than one pet and how difficult it was for them and their pets to be shipped to a different country? I know the housing allowance varies based off of your base location, but what would you say the median is? I know you said you live in a very nice house so that is promising. You mentioned the "other duties". Can you describe those a little more? I LOVED hearing from you, the information was great and sounds so promising for Navy nursing!

To answer your questions I am currently a freshman in a four year degree program. My recruiter says he will submit my package on August 1st (the first day the program opens for people in my year) and then I will wait to find out from there. So I have a lot of waiting to do. Thank you for reminding me about the nursing association activities, I forgot to include that I'm part of NSNA on my resume. I actually can't swim yet, but I have a few friends who are in the process of teaching me. I figured it would be a good idea to learn as the Navy has a lot to do with water. :) I'm not sure if you can answer this for me, but do you know what my rank will be when I first enter the military after the program? I've heard some say Lieutenant, but the lowest officer rank is an Ensign, so I'm not quite sure what everyone means.

Thank you so much for all the information. That is all very helpful. I have actually started the process of applying for the Navy Nurse Candidate Program. I'm not sure if you have heard of that or not? The things you listed above that would make a person choose the Navy were the reasons I picked the Navy over the Air Force. I don't really have any general military questions at the moment, but if you know of anyone or have any information on how long it takes to be accepted into the Navy Nurse Candidate Program that would be greatly appreciated! Oh, to answer your question I am from Ohio. Once again, thank you again for all the helpful information.

I am currently a nursing student, I won't graduate for a few more years. However, I'm looking at all of my options right now. I know I want to work for the military in some way. I cannot decide between working as a civilian contract nurse or actually joining the military as a nurse (I would go in as an officer). I have a few questions I am hoping someone can answer for me. 1. I am torn between the Navy and Air Force. Can anyone tell me the pros and cons of both branches? 2. What is the training like? Like the basic training and nursing training? 3. If I become a member of the military is there any way I can have a pet? I understand I cannot if I am deployed out of the country. But if I were stationed at a base in the U.S. could I? I have heard different stories. Some say as a single officer I would have to live in dorms. Others say I could apply for base housing or off base housing. Which is true? 4. What types of nursing could I expect to find in the military? 5. I am very interested in working in a trauma department. Do I need to work my way up to that or can I ask to be placed there? 6. What are the hours of a military nurse and what do they do in their free time? 7. What other duties can I expect as a nurse? I know there are a lot of questions, but I want to make the best decision possible after I graduate from nursing school. Thank you!